Holding device for cellophane bags

ABSTRACT

A device which holds cellophane bags for automatic and semiautomatic bagging equipment, and the device enables the dispensing and filling of single bags which are held in packets in the filling equipment.

United States Patent Wouda 51 Aug. 22, 1972 [54] HOLDING DEVICE FOR CELLOPHANE BAGS [72] Inventor: Sally A. Wouda, White Plains, NY.

[7 3] Assignee: International Telephone and Telegraph Corporation, Nutley, N.Y.

[22] Filed: July 16, 1970 [21] Appl. No.: 55,328

521 U.S.Cl ..s3/1s9-,53/3s5 [51] int. Cl. ..'...B65b43/36 5s FieIdofSearch ..53/l89,385

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,490,195 l/l970 Abramson ..53/385 X 4/1970 Noyes et al. ..53/385 X 5/1971 Lowery ..53/385 X Primary Examiner-Travis S. McGehee Att0mey--C. Cornell Remsen, Jr., Walter J. Baum, Paul W. Hemminger, Charles L. Johnson, Jr., Philip M. Bolton, Isidore Togut, Edward Goldberg and Menotti J. Lombardi, Jr.

[5 7] ABSTRACT A 'device which holdscellophane bags for automatic and semiautomatic bagging equipment, and the device enables the dispensing and filling of single bags which are held in packets in the filling equipment.

2 Clains, 3 Drawing Figures 'PATENTEmuszz I972 INVENTOR SALLY A. Hal/0 BYZE; a i

ATTORNEY HOLDING DEVICE FOR CELLOPI-IANE BAGS BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION This invention is directed to a device which satisfies a long sought after solution in packaging of sweet goods. The marketing of bakery items such as apple strudel requires high speed production and packaging, and automatic bagging equipment is generally available only for polyethylene bags. The polyethylene bags, although quite satisfactory for many bakery products such as breads, are totally unsatisfactory for rich products with icing on them for the moisture vapor characteristics of polyethylene have always made these products look unappetizing even though they are perfectly fresh.

The problem to be solved required developing a device whereby cellophane bags, which have the proper moisture vapor transmission rate, can be handled on the same automatic packaging equipment as the polyethylene bags. Ordinarily, cellophane bags are not fabricated on wickets for automatic bagging equipment because of the present methods of manufacture and exacting requirements for a bag top lip and other critical machine specifications. Therefore, the problem resolved itself to running unwicketed cellophane bags and wicketed polyethylene bags on the same bagging equipment without interchanging parts of the system. To use wicketed cellophane bags on the same automatic equipment which would require modification of the scoop, the angle and height of the transfer actuator and the design of the bag table. However, the present device enables the dispensing and filling of cellophane bags which are held in packets in the equipment, and also enables wicketed polyethylene bags to be dispensed from the same filling equipment.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION type bag.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS The objects and features of the invention will best be understood if reference is made to the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 shows the device according to the invention;

FIG. 2 further illustrates the device as incorporated in the automatic bagging equipment; and

FIG. 3 shows a U-shaped member according to the invention.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT The present embodiment of the invention will best be understood if reference is made to FIGS. 1 and 2 of the drawings. Only those portions of the automatic bagging equipment have been illustrated which are required to understand the principle according to the invention. A

wicket-stop blower 10 has attached a U-shaped spring steel member 11 which resiliently bears against a stack of cellophane bags 12. The cellophane bags 12 are mounted on a spring-loaded table 13 comprising an upper member 14, a lower member 15 and spring member 16. As illustrated in FIG. 1, the upper member 14 contains slots 17 through which a wicket 18, shown in dashed lines, may be inserted when the equipment is dispensing polyethylene bags rather than cellophane bags as illustrated. Previous to the invention the wicket would press against the wicket-stop blower l0, and now it presses against the U-shaped spring steel member 1 1 without affecting the operation of the equipment.

The cellophane bags do not utilize a wicket but, as shown in FIG. 2, the bags are held in position by the U- shaped member 11 which engages the lip 19 of bag 20 which is illustrated in the blown position. The wicketstop blower 10serves with member 21 to form a channel 22 through which air is blown in the direction 23 by any conventional blower means to inflate bag 20.

A scoop 24 is shaped to engage the inflated bag 20 and allows the goods 25 to be inserted into the bag by actuator 26. The goods are moved on table 27 and actuator 26 contacts the goods 25 to insert them into the inflated bag 20.

FIG. 3 illustrates in detail a U-shaped member which we have found in practice to work satisfactorily with 8- inch wide cellophane bags having a z-inch lip. The spring steel member 11 has a 4-inch length, with equal lfi-inch tabs bent at approximately 45. The member 11 is 7/8 inch wide and 0.013 inch thick. The illustrated device provides a unique means of holding cellophane bags in position, and also allows standard wicketed polyethylene bags to be utilized on the same automatic bagging equipment.

The size of the U-shaped member may be altered to accommodate a particular size bag lip, and the illustrated embodiment also worked with a bag lip up to 1% inches long. When running cellophane bags, it is helpful to dust the cellophane with commercial starch powder to increase the slip between the U-shaped steel device and the bag to facilitate high speed operation.

Although I have described above the principles of the invention in connection with specific apparatus, it should be clearly understood that this description is given by way of example only and is not to be considered as a limitation on the scope of the invention as described in the objects thereof and in the accompanying claims.

I claim:

1. Apparatus for opening one of a plurality of collapsed cellophane bags comprising:

a spring-loaded bag table for holding said plurality of collapsed bags;

a wicket-stop blower;

a U-shaped spring steel device mounted to said wicket-stop blower and positioned to resiliently bear against the lip of aid one plurality of collapsed bags; and

air conduit means including said wicket-stop blower for directing a stream of air through said U-shaped device and towards said one collapsed bag so that it has a tendency to at least partially open at the mouth.

2. The apparatus according to claim 1 including:

a scoop adapted to maintain said one bag in an open condition; and means for inserting goods into the open bag.

unanrn 

1. Apparatus for opening one of a plurality of collapsed cellophane bags comprising: a spring-loaded bag table for holding said plurality of collapsed bags; a wicket-stop blower; a U-shaped spring steel device mounted to said wicket-stop blower and positioned to resiliently bear against the lip of aid one plurality of collapsed bags; and air conduit means including said wicket-stop blower for directing a stream of air through said U-shaped device and towards said one collapsed bag so that it has a tendency to at least partially open at the mouth.
 2. The apparatus according to claim 1 including: a scoop adapted to maintain said one bag in an open condition; and means for inserting goods into the open bag. 